Battle of the Somme 1916
When The First World War began in August 1914 many people
thought that it would be over by Christmas. Contrary to their
expectations it was a long and bloody war, and for many the Battle
of the Somme, fought between July and November 1916,
represents the sacrifice of the First World War
The French had faced considerable pressure from the Germans at
Verdun where they had been fighting since February 1916. General
Joffre, the leader of the French troops, asked General Douglas Haig,
the leader of the British soldiers in France for help. Joffre asked
Haig to reduce the pressure on the French by commencing an attack
17 miles to the north of the river Somme. 60,000 British troops
were injured and around 20,000 were killed on the first day of the
battle on July 1, 1916. Many Welsh soldiers were among those
killed.
British troops fired their artillery or heavy guns and shells for five
days before the first day of the battle, but the German troops had
taken shelter in deep concrete dug-outs behind their trenches.
British planes failed to spot German artillery because of the low
cloud. This meant that thousands of British troops were shot as
they crossed no man’s land.
The artillery failed to cut through the German barbed wire and
many British soldiers became entangled in the wire as they crossed
no man’s land. Soldiers felt fear and terror as they went over the top knowing that they were
easy targets for the German machine gun fire. General Haig was
described by many as the Butcher of the Somme because he
Cambrian Daily Leader,
November 7, 1916
believed that foot soldiers and cavalry could defeat the new
technology of the machine gun.
Britain used tanks for the first time in the Battle of the Somme. These were armed vehicles
with machine guns that moved on a continuous metal track. A tank could handle difficult
conditions such as mud and rain.
When the battle ended in November 1916:




1 million soldiers had been killed
or injured
125,000 British soldiers had been
killed
Britain and France had only
gained 8km of land
The attack had reduced the
pressure on the French army
Battle of the Somme 1916
1
Look at paragraphs 1 and 2
Tick which of the following sentences are true and untrue
True
Untrue
Many people thought that the war would be over by
Christmas
The attack on the Somme was launched to help ease
the pressure on French troops at Verdun
The Battle of the Somme began in November 1916
The attack started to the south of the river Somme
Many soldiers from Wales fought on the Somme
The Battle of Verdun started in February 1916
By the end of the Battle of the Somme 1 million had
been killed or injured
2
Choose and copy one word that suggests what the Battle of the Somme represents for
many people
____________________________________________________________________________
3
Look at the newspaper report.
Underline information that shows that the British and French troops were winning in
the Battle of the Somme.
4
Draw a line to show which word matches each definition
General Haig
the leader of the French troops
General Joffre
shelter behind the trenches
Tank
heavy guns that fired shells
Artillery
the leader of the British troops
Dug-out
an armoured vehicle
Battle of the Somme 1916
5
How did the soldiers feel as they went over the top?
Tick 1
happy and joyful
nervous and fearful
jolly and cheerful
eager and confident
6
What do you know about the Battle of the Somme after reading this text?
Tick 2
Not many Welsh soldiers fought on the
Somme
Only 8 km of land had been gained by the
British and French by the end of the battle
It had been an easy battle for the French
and British soldiers
British military leaders had used ineffective
tactics
Germany lost a huge amount of land to
Britain and France
7
Place these events in their chronological order from 1 – 5
1 million had been killed or injured by the time the battle ended in
November 1916
Between July 1 and November 1 more than 71,532 German soldiers
were taken prisoner by Britain and France on the Somme
Joffre asked Haig to relieve pressure on the French army at
Verdun by launching an attack further down the Somme
The First World War was declared in 1914
More than 20,000 soldiers were killed on the first day of the battle
Battle of the Somme 1916
Answers
1.
Many people thought that the war would be over by
Christmas
The attack on the Somme was launched to help ease the
pressure on French troops at Verdun
The Battle of the Somme began in November 1916
The attack started to the south of the river Somme
Many soldiers from Wales fought on the Somme
The Battle of Verdun started in February 1916
By the end of the Battle of the Somme 1 million had been
killed or injured
True
x
Untrue
x
x
x
x
x
x
2.
sacrifice
3.
Any suitable answer e.g. equipment captured
4.
General Haig – the leader of the British troops
General Joffre – the leader of the French troops
tank – an armoured vehicle
artillery – heavy guns that fired shells
dug-out – shelter behind the trenches
5. How did the soldiers feel as they went over the top?
nervous and fearful
6. What do you know about the Battle of the Somme after reading this text?
1. Only 8 km of land had been gained by the British and French by the end of the battle
2. British military leaders had used ineffective tactics
7. Place the events in their chronological order from 1 – 5
5. 1 million had been killed or injured by the time the battle ended in November 1916
4. Between July 1 and November 1 more than 71,532 German soldiers
were taken prisoner by Britain and France on the Somme
2. Joffre asked Haig to relieve pressure on the French army at Verdun
by launching an attack further down the Somme
1. The First World War was declared in 1914
3. More than 20,000 soldiers were killed on the first day of the battle